"Neither portrayal is accurate.But people love the great debate on these cultural issues.Problem is that NOTHING ever really changes."
You don't happen to live in N'awlins, do you?
"You don't happen to live in N'awlins,do you"
Nope,but I used to!From 1972-1977.Taught at an infamous high school in the Ninth Ward which shall remain anonymous but if you are from down yonder then you know the place I am refering to.
It wasn't so bad back then.Only 100 murders a year.I used to go to student wedding receptions in the Desire Project and school night ball games.No drama.Most kids on welfare.One of the old school black teachers told me the worst thing to happen to the community were the food stamp and free lunch programs cause they put the "poor"stigma on the kids and their sense of self-reliance went down the drain.
All in all not a bad experience.Kids then had some hope.What I find now with most of my urban West Coast kids is this "I don't give a bleep"attitude about anything.Not all feel this way but it is way too prevalent.